As I'm just starting to get this long-dormant site rolling again, it's only fitting that I start tracking the ol' running again. I'm good about doing it, but bad about tracking it--it seems counterintuitive, since my greatest motivations for running aren't outwardly competitive or related to a set training program; rather, they're about meditation, self-challenging, and developing a discipline and consistency.

So, then, a recap. After the shin splints which sidelined me last summer, I slowly made forays back into semi-regular running in the fall, starting out with short runs and lots of recovery time to avoid reinjury. I've never managed to run regularly all the way through the winter in past years, but did manage to run on and off all the way through this time. Granted, the runs weren't as frequent or as long as my traditional average, but I felt so good simply being out there again that measurement wasn't a concern to me. I knew that with time and patience, I'd get back to where I'd been last year, and so I went about it methodically, focusing on re-experiencing the sensations of being out in the various seasonal settings, each time with its own unique challenges and rewards, and looked forward to getting a little better each time.

Now, at last, I seem to be getting back into the regular swing of things. Back to cresting three miles each run, running up to three times each week, though this time I'm being more forgiving to my body through more emphasis on warming up & cooling down, stretching, and restraining myself from adding too much distance. I feel better and breathe better at the end of a run than at the start, which creates a temptation to keep going, but when I hit that point I just remind myself of what's best, smile inwardly in gratitude, and shift into the cool-down walk. It was great fun pushing myself up to 6 mile runs last spring, but I'd rather experience the slow joy of consistency and progress than overdo it again through rushing. Now that I better know my strengths & weaknesses, and am more savvy through the study I did during my time off, I know that I have a lot to look forward to.

Labels: Running